Tonight’s episode begins with an overview of Nick enjoying his murderous indulgences, even though he’s sans Lucifer. THEN: Michael battles Sam, Cas, and Dean in Dean’s mind and is trapped inside Dean’s mind. Billie visits Dean and tells him there’s only one way he dies that doesn’t end in Michael destroying the world.

NOW: There’s a close up of ropes binding a woman’s bare arms. Nick has tied up a woman in an evening gown, high heels, an upswept hair do, and sparkling, dangling earrings. She marvels that she’s been caught by a human. Is he some kind of hunter, the captive wonders. Nick says he’s not. He has a huge knife, but the woman isn’t phased by that. Nick wants information on the demon Abraxis and on the hunter he’d heard had tracked him down. The woman tells him that the hunter is in Hibbing, Minnesota, before her eyes turn black. She’s still looking arrogant when he stabs straight for her face, and we see black ooze like a tear drop down her face.

On January 24, 1979, somewhere in Lawrence, Kansas, a boy was born to Mary and John Winchester. At the time of his birth, no one thought he would have to fight ghosts, demons, ghouls, vampires, and all the other natural and "supernatural" creatures of the world. Neither did they know how important he would be in the fight to stop the apocalypse and other calamities of the future. Dean Winchester, today we celebrate your 40th birthday! This Is Your Life!

Well, that was a bit of a humdinger, wasn’t it? An episode that went deep philosophically yet still had enough to appease the fans, gave the actors something to work with and then ended on a mystery cliffhanger that has since spurned wild speculation among the faithful. So yeah, I would call it a pretty good hour. Not perfect, but pretty good.

I’d like to offer my congratulations to writer Steve Yockey for finally delivering since season two (save for season 9’s “Road Trip”) a very worthwhile mid-season premiere. Mid-season premieres have ranged from weak to just all out dung (I’m looking at you “First Blood” and “Wayward Sisters”), which tends to be a huge momentum killer when trying to kick start the rest of the season. What I appreciated the most about “Nihilism” is something Steve Yockey has skillfully done before, tie together a few of the many dangling plot threads into something that’s not only logical but creates many possibilities. In this case, he went in a direction I never anticipated. Supernatural has left so much out there and the amount of material to work with is staggering, yet few writers choose to do what Yockey has done. I’m actually looking forward how the rest of the season plays out. That’s a miracle right there.

The Morning After

Exciting and brilliantly executed. Supernatural’s 14.10 “Nihilism” was another superb chapter in season 14’s story. Jensen was absolutely outstanding, presenting such a chilling and overly-confident Michael that there was no trace of Dean in the face we’ve lovingly obsessed over for 14 years. Thankfully, all the other characters got to play smart versions of themselves, from experienced, powerful Castiel; to Sam knowing his brother better than his brother knows himself; to the momentary return of Jack the Nephilim savior. Even Maggie’s valiant attempt at leading hunters was realistic, as her failure to anticipate the Trojan horse tactic (the imposter/disguise thread) reflected her youth and inexperience.

Then – Dean mentions impossible odds and walking into a trap. We see Michael possessing Dean and doing some of his take-over-the-world activities, Gadreel possessing Sam and Sam able to break free from the mind-control when Crowley said, “Poughkeepsie!”, Jack collapsing and dying but being restored by Cas who speaks of the power of the human soul. Finally, there is Dean attacking Michael with the spear but then being retaken over and Michael gloating in front of the window, declaring his power.